Rucker helped raise more than $1.7 million during a fundraising telethon for the 2010 floods in Nashville, Tenn., and a portion of the money raised was directed toward Red Cross relief efforts.

“Whether it is a call to action for blood drives, disaster relief or just community outreach, the American Red Cross does an extraordinary job at not only meeting the immediate needs of a community, but also the preparation and planning for long-term support,” Rucker said in a press release issued April 13. “I am honored that they would include me in the cabinet as a member and contributor.”